Send in the clowns — it’s campaign season!
New York politicians are blowing through their war chests to buy thousand-dollar cakes, pleasure cruises and self-help seminars, a Post review of campaign-finance records show. Others are doubling down on carnival concessions, with Queens Democrats US Rep. Grace Meng and state Sen. Tony Avella paying Send In The Clowns Entertainment Corp. to work community events.
Avella spent $782 in July 2013 for the party company, while Meng doled out $500 a month later for the service.
“They do photography,” said Meng spokesman Jordan Goldes. “They take pictures of people who attend fundraisers.”
Meanwhile, state Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) dropped $3,015 on just six orders of cake — with expenditures called “Mother’s Day Cake” and “Father’s Day Cake” costing $1,240 each.
Diaz told The Post he bought more than six desserts. “I don’t know how many there are, but Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, I send cakes to the senior centers,” he said.
Watchdogs say the state Board of Elections doesn’t do enough to stop on the barnstorming booty.
“Theirs is a very permissive approach on how this money can be used,” said Alex Camarda, director of public policy and advocacy at Citizens Union. “We obviously think that’s something that should change.“The candidates come to rely on this money to fund a wide swath of purposes — not only what’s necessary to a campaign, but cars and clothing and fancy dinners,” he added.
State Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) spent $1,310 at the Bear Factory, a purveyor of stuffed animals in costumes, for his annual Easter Bunny Breakfast and Magic Show.
“Senator Klein enjoys supporting community programs, especially those focused on kids,” said Klein spokeswoman Candice Giove. “It’s just one small way he’s able to give back.”
This season’s stump swag also includes $1,847 in towels from Sen. Jack Martins (R-LL) for a basketball tournament, and $1,455 worth of Eagle Scout awards from Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-LI).
No detail is spared on the trail, either. Sen. Diane Savino (D-SI) donated $600 to the Miss Staten Island Pageant, while Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) forked over $100 in August for a “dove release” at a community event.
“It was either for a veterans event or an event for juvenile diabetes,” Addabbo said.
Sen. David Carlucci (D-Rockland-Westchester) spent $495 on a seminar by self-help guru Tony Robbins in August 2013, followed by $456 in Robbins “training materials” three months later.
“He never shies away from good communications advice,” said Carlucci spokesman Michael Grubiak.
Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) shelled out $387 for bingo cards advertising his campaign. Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver spent $1,900 on bus company Zaly’s Tours so constituents could visit Albany for the governor’s State of the State Address.
City Council contenders racked up bills for election goodies. Brooklyn Dem Chaim Deutsch spent $3,448 on “bumper magnets,” while Queens Republican Eric Ulrich gave out $1,170 in “halloween bags.”
Mayor de Blasio’s campaign lists a $550 payment on Nov. 25 to Gina Riggi, a makeup artist for the “Charlie Rose Show.” Records show the expenditure was for “election night.”